New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-30
PD4JJTIES At Rom y,

In Italian and Vatican politics things arc
not what they seem" This Is the moral OF
the very important letter from Rome which
may be found on another page OutwardIy
there is an ircprcssibc conflict between Church
and State and faithful Catholics throughout the
world are urged increasingly TO increase their
offerings Of Peters pence for the pressing nccds
Of the prisoner Of the Vatican. In reality The
Ouirinal and the Vatican are cooperating for
mutual advantage, and what are loudly pro-
claimed a. evidences of hostility and spollatlon
are signs Of reconciliation and compromise
Onr wcll-informcd correspondent analyses this
MachavCllian policy, which is characteristic OF
the Italian mind with much ingenuity ana
lucidity Was the anniversary OF the capture
of Rome celebrated with unusual fcrvor That
does not mean anything, since III municipal
and other elections there is combination OF
tho Government and Papal forces, showing
conclusivcly marked change in the attitude
of Ouirinal and Vatican. Have the tlthcs
LEVIED for the maintenance Of parish priests
been abolished by Royal proclamation The
priests have only exchanged precarlouS for
a fixed income. since their shpcnds are 10"
maid by appropriations in the annual budget
sions Of the Propaganda fido conlscatcd by
the State? Payment was made in Treasury
bonds bearing good interest. and the Propa-
randa Eide proftcd well by the transaction.
Every one Of the recent acts OF the Italian
Government denounced by Catholics through
out Chrstendom has marked secret under
standing between the Vatican and the Govern
mcnt. Church and State are rapidly ciicctlng
a series Of compromises which Will eventually
end in a lasting peace.
While this is the real significance Of the in
tricato policy which seems destined to render
the present pontificatc historical, il is revealed
with deliberate caution and indIrcctlon. lf
tho Vatican organs are TO be implicitly fol-
lowed new acts of spoliati0n and robbery are
planned by the aggressive Italian Government,
bostilites have never been suspended and the
faithful must renew their efforts in every
Christian land TO contribute to the support oi
the Holy Father. This is the impression which
prevails generally among Catholics. and there
is no falling OIL in Peters pence. AS matter
Of politics and Of finance. the vatican is not
anxious to remove this impression yet when
thc facts are analysed it becomes PLAN that
the relations of the Church to the ltaian Gov
crnmcnt have greatly improved that the abo''-
ton Of the unpopular tlthcs Is a substantial
gain to the clergy, and that the TRANSACTIONS
relating to the Propaganda fldc have been
highly advantageous III increasing aVaIlpic
revenues Sham battles are useful when the
contestants find il convenient to have the hcld
Of operations concealed by clouds OF smoke.
Tho Italian Ministers like the Vatican authon-
tics have their reasons for desiring 10 hide Their
purposes. They are making great concessions
which will add materially TO the power and
authority of the Church; but they have po-
ltical grounds for drcading the effects Of pre-
mature revelations The truth is suppressed
The constituencies are misled. Burned powder